Clark County Press, Neillsville, WI September 13, 1995, Page 28 Transcribed by Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon. Index of "Oldies" Articles

Good Old Days 

By Dee Zimmerman

Clark County Republican

November 1867

O’Neill Creek was full of skaters on Sunday, the ice keeping firm all day.  Some were sliding forward and others side-ways, but we guess all that participated were backsliders.

Hewett, Wood & Co., has already put two crews at work in the woods.  One camp is situated on Wedge’s Creek, and the other on Popple River. 

Gone In – Messrs. Jones, Tompkins and Free Lindsey, of Twenty-six marched into camp last week with a full crew of men.   They hang out on Popple River, about twenty-eight miles hence.  They propose to put in three million feet, to a log.

Mr. King will arrange matters this winter so that he will be prepared to supply all demands for seasoned lumber of every description.  In order to do this he will put in a million feet extra to a log.

We record the fact with sorrow that several valuable teams have been lost on the Twenty-six road.  We suppose that future generations will find the lifeless carcass of many a noble horse in the quagmire now called and used as a road through town Twenty-six.

On a Visit – one of Neillsville’s old acquaintances, Captain Thos. La Flesh was in town yesterday.  He was in the war four years as commander of a company in the Second Wisconsin cavalry and says it didn’t hurt him a bit.  The captain is now in the logging business on the east fork of the Black River.

The present pretty weather will not last much longer, unless the almanac belies itself; and in consideration of this fact it might be well to step into the finely furnished stove and hardware store of O. P. Wells, where everything in that line of goods can be obtained at Sparta prices.

A Shooting Match – Wednesday next the 27^th inst. will be observed as a holiday by all who desire to capture a turkey for the 28^th – the national day of Thanksgiving.  Our enterprising friends, Messrs. Helon Nichols and J. B. Davis, will inaugurate a grand shooing match at nine o’clock on the morning of Wednesday next, at the Lumbermen’s Hotel.  This will be a fine sport for our marksmen, and we doubt not that it will be a success throughout.  Remember, Wednesday at 9 o’clock.

Daily Line – The good looking, urbane and energetic proprietor of the stage line between Black River Falls and Weston, Mr. A. K. Stafford, encouraged by the liberal increase of patronage bestowed upon him has concluded to run a daily line between the points named.  He evidently is of a business turn of mind.

In the Fur Business – Hon. Jas. O’Neill, member of Assembly elect, has received the appointment of general agent of this part of Wisconsin for the purchase of all kinds of furs, for an extensive manufacturing company in New York.  Mr. O’Neill is ready to negotiate for all kinds, from the muskrat to the otter, for which he will pay the highest cash price.

Application was made some time ago to have a mail route and post office in the town of Loyal, this county.  Since that time nothing has been heard of the petition, and as the logging season is now at hand, its loss will be severely felt by the boys in the woods of that section.  If Postmaster Gen. Randall would drop his scheme of manufacturing “new parties” and attend to the affairs of his office, Wisconsin would have less cause to be ashamed of him.

Sleds, Wagon Making, Etc: – There is a great demand for sleds in this section now.  The lumbermen are all going into the woods where they will spend the winter.  The heavy lumber business anticipated renders it imperatively necessary that plenty of sleds should be on the market.  Our good-humored friend W. K. Dickey, the accomplished spokesman of our town, has been at work for some weeks in putting together the above named institutions.  Mr. D. a first class mechanic, having been for many years engaged in this manufacture of wagons, sleighs, etc and with a steady increase of business, we hope soon to see him operating on a much larger scale.

December 6, 1867

One hundred and Sixty acres of good pine land lying in the northern part of this county, was sold the other day by Mr. Eugene Parmerter for $1,280.  Prices for pine land range from $5 to $8 per acre.

Bad Management – The school house across the river, west of here in district no. 2, for some reason, still remains unfinished.  The people should not be deprived of the advantages of a good school, and it is strange the matter is not better attended to.

Hunting Excursion – A happy and festive party of Sparta gentlemen, among who was Jay W. Hipple, of the Democrat news, passed through our village on a grand hunting excursion to the northern part of the county one day last week.  They contemplate slaying all the deer, bear and like game, this section of the county, and have made ample preparations for a glorious result.  Later – The aforesaid party, Condit, Nichols, Dickinson, Whipple, Irwin and Bell, brought back from the “deer range” the largest buck that has ever been killed in this section of the state, weighing 338 pounds.

The grand ball and oyster supper at the Neillsville House last night was a magnificent affair.  The attendance was large but not crowded, and the music discoursed by Hall & Halsted’s band was excellent.  The supper was “dished up” in an elegant and tasteful manner, to the entire satisfaction of all who partook thereof.  At three in the morning the happy throng, quietly dispersed, all declared that this was the grandest ball of the season.

By referring to an advertisement in another column it will be seen that the O’Neill House will be closed to the traveling public on the last day of the present month.  Mr. O’Neill, the proprietor, and our member of Assembly elect, will spend the winter in Madison, and, we are sure the interests of this district will be faithfully attended to while our worthy and capable representative has a voice in the Legislature of Wisconsin.  We are sorry to learn that the hotel will not be kept open, and hope satisfactory arrangements can be made with some party that will keep it running. 

Our first issue in each month will contain a list of letters remaining in the post office at this place uncalled for, Postmaster Hutchinson very kindly furnishing the names.

A scarcity of men to work in the woods during the winter season has been the universal cry of our lumbermen for the past few years, but this fall it has reversed, and men are becoming quite plentiful.  Every day squads are arriving, on stage and a foot, filling our hotel every night.  They all disappear in the woods as fast as they come, and for a stranger to imagine where they all go to, is almost impossible.  There is a great amount of labor to be performed in our inexhaustible pine forest before next spring, and as there is no lack of help, we may confidently predict that with a good fall of snow and favorable weather, the amount of timber harvested will far exceed 1,000,000,000 feet, the general estimate.

Scrimmage in Staffordsville – Staffordsville is a collection of houses a mile up the road.  It has a reputation of being a pleasant place; the settlement takes its name from its proprietor, Mr. L. R. Stafford, and business man all over, and one who has contributed much to the improvement of Clark County.  A good hotel is situated there, and a large daily take in their rations under Stafford’s hospitable roof.  Among the number who tabernacled under his roof was a checky chap who sported under the illustrious cognomen of Cameron.  He assumed that he was in the employ of Mr. McDonald, and on that procured clothing from Stafford valued at something like forty dollars.  A day or two after the transfer of goods was made, Mr. McDonald appeared on the premises; and when questioned concerning the matter stated that he did not know the juvenile, and that he was not in his employ.  This changed matters somewhat, necessitating an interview with the aforesaid.  He was not long out of the way, being but a short distance off.   Stafford and Cameron met, and a conversation of a business nature followed, during which Stafford received a blow in the face.  This opened up a nice little speck of war, which resulted in the complete discomfiture of the attacking party.  At last accounts he was still going.

Clark County contains 648 children under twenty-one and over four years of age, apportioned as follows: Pine Valley 188; Lynn, 112; Weston, 157; Loyal, 85; Levis 62; Mentor, 47.

Adams drug store came near deceiving a visit from the “devouring element” on Wednesday night.  A fire originated in a spittoon, caused by a lighted cigar being deposited therein.

Devine Service will be held at the courthouse Sunday evening.

Wanted – This little burg stands in need of a saddler: such as individual could reap a rich harvest in this latitude, and we are badly fooled if some sensible man doesn’t embrace the opportunity.  Come on, there is plenty of room.  Neillsville also wants a good tailor – we will agree to insert his business card in our paper three months for nothing, and “blow-him-up” at least twice a month.  He will never regret the venture; and in twenty years, when Neillsville is a proud and prosperous city, he will have the proud satisfaction of knowing that he clothes it in its armor of strength, progress and usefulness.

The only way to entertain some folks is to listen to them. – Kin Hubbard

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It takes twenty years to make an overnight success. – Eddie Cantor

T. O. Mosher Hardware Store built in 1882 in Thorp.  He also owned another business building which was leased for millinery shop, some additional village lots and a farm.

J. H. Sargent’s Opera Hall in Thorp was operated by H., H. and his son H. F. Sargent:  Their firm was organized in 1887, and its senior member was a real estate dealer.  They owned a large portion of timber and farm land.  The above building served many purposes such as a dance hall, opera hall with seating for 600, all town meetings were held there as well as some church services. 

W. E. Poate & Co. Hardware

The hardware store of W. E. Poate & Co. and the residence of Poate next to the store were located at Maple Works (Granton).  The business was established in 1888.  Poate, formerly a tinner at Neillsville: sold heavy and shelf hardware as well as farm equipment.  While a resident of Neillsville, Poate served as a captain of Co A. 3^rd Regiment Wis. National Guard.